MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10295697December 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NOISE IN ENGINE AFTER COLD START. ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY MINI OF PEABODY MA AFTER A INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A 2008 COOPER S JCW AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN NOISY SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER IT WARMS UP. DEALER TELLS ME NOTHING IS WRONG. ORIGINAL ENGINE FAILED AT 8,000 MILES AND SO DID THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. NOW AT 17,000 MILES TRANSMISSION OK BUT ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS KNOCKING AT START UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295305December 11, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
1. NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. PASSENGER REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED ... STEEL FAILED UNDER STRESS ONE OF SEVERAL MANUFACTURE HOLES PUNCHED INTO THE MEMBER. 2. CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. 3. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM. BMW HAS SINCE RE-ENGINEERED THE CONTROL ARM. REPLACEMENT ARMS ARE MADE STRONGER. *** I CAN PROVIDE ONLINE FORUM POSTINGS FROM NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM AND MINI2.COM (US AND UK ONLINE FORUMS FOR MINI OWNERS) WHICH DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS MEMBER IS ROUTINELY BREAKING ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME VINTAGE. PHOTOS OF MY FAILURE AND THE FAILURES OF OTHERS AVAILABLE. MINI IS ROUTINELY DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM CITING IMPROPER DRIVING HABITS. *** *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294721December 7, 2009
STEERING
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARALLEL PARKING IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, A FIRE SHORTLY FOLLOWED. THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPT. WAS PHONED. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294527December 4, 2009
STEERING
2002 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SMALL FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE PUMP,FAN,WIRING HARNESS,POWER STEERING LINE. CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR OVER 1200 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294238December 2, 2009
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BATTERY CHARGING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATLEY SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER HOWEVER HE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 88,000.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293916November 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STEERING
FAILURE OF 2003 MINI COOPER MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDER REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I FIRST NOTICED THE CAR LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL, THEN IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. NEXT MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO REVERSE, WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND SOME GEARS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. AT A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN HEARING A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, LIKE METAL IN A BLENDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR, I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER OFFERED NOTHING. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHREDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. SAID A BEARING HAD COME LOOSE AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION, ALL AT 65K MILES. HE ALSO SAID THE ENGINE COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE ENDANGERING. ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT AT 30K MILES. BOTH VERY COSTLY REPAIRS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREAT. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WERE $3K AND THAT WAS FROM A PRIVATE MECHANIC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS A PLETHORA OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION THAT MINI COOPER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALER NOR CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD OFFER ANY HELP IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293658November 26, 2009
STEERING
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILING OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING THE CAR. CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER AS A RESULT. TEN + INCIDENTS OF THIS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $900.00. NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293544November 25, 2009
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE MINI COOPER CLUBMANS 2008 AND 2009 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE TOYOTAS HAVE WITH THE FLOOR MATS. THEY ARE REALLY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293175November 22, 2009
STEERING
2002 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING QUIT (MY WIFE DRIVING AND BY HERSELF) IN A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO INJURIES BUT VERY CLOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292529November 17, 2009
AIR BAGS
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, INDICATING THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF, WHEN A FULL SIZED ADULT IS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292579November 17, 2009
STEERING
DRIVING HOME AS USUAL, WHEN I TURNED TO BACK-IN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY. LEFT CAR OVERNIGHT AND TRIED AGAIN NEXT DAY. FINE THE NEXT DAY, BUT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY. 2003 MCS 31,700 MILES. LOOKING INTO CAUSE OF FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292084November 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY BE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN $8,000-$9,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UDDATED 01/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291382November 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT 2007 MINI COOPER S PRE-OWNED CAR ON 8/24/09 WHICH HAS 3,627 MILES ON IT AT $24,000. ON 10/25/09, IS ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, I WAS DRIVING A CAR AND NOTICED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. THE CAR WON'T GO IN GEAR AND MOVE. ON THAT NIGHT, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOAD. EVEN IF I PUSH A GAS, IT JUST DOES MAKE NOISY SOUND AND SMELL REALLY BAD, AND IT NEVER MOVE. NEXT DAY IT WAS TOWED TO THE ORLANDO MINI DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED OUT AND THIS REPAIR (PER THE DEALERS ESTIMATE IS $3,000)IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS DRIVEN BY AN INEXPERIENCED PERSON OR NEGLECTED. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL CAR DRIVER AND WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME IS NOT TRUE. IT IS ONLY 4,000 MILES AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IF WE DRIVE IN A NORMAL WAY. THE DEALER DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND I ENDED UP GOING A RELIABLE LOCAL MECHANIC AND PAYING $2,200 TO FIX IT WITHOUT WARRANTY. THE GUY AT THE MECHANIC SAYS MINI CLUTCH IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HE HAS FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. I ALSO WENT TO A WEBSITE AND REALIZED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN SAY IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN SOON. I BELIEVE IT WAS A DEFECTED CLUTCH AND WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALL EVIDENCES AVAILABLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD HELP ME TO RECOVER MY MONETARY DAMAGES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290875November 3, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290600November 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED A 2004 MINI COOPER A YEAR AGO, WITH A MILEAGE OF 17,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS SENT TO LOCAL MINI DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED WRECKED, AND DEALER OFFERED A REPLACEMENT (ONLY SOLUTION) WITH A RE-FURBISHED CVT TRANSMISSION FOR $9800. AFTER NEGOTIATION, I HAD MINI COVER THE PARTS AND I PAID LABOR. BUT I HAVE SEEN ON SO MANY FORUMS THAT ALL CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING SO I WONDER WHY THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. MY CVT FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAD 21,000 MILES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289793October 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2007 MINI COOPER S SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I HAD TRAVELED LESS THAN TWO MILES WHEN I PARKED THE CAR. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND COMPLETELY TOTALED THE CAR BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289738October 25, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 2003 MINI COOPER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289439October 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER S. APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES. OCTOBER 22, 2009. I HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. GOING IN THE HOUSE I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF INVESTIGATING IN THE HOUSE, I DECIDED TO GO BACK INTO THE GARAGE, AND FIND THAT IT IS A LITTLE SMOKEY. I OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND BACK THE MINI OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. NOW THERE IS SMOKE STREAMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN HEAR SPINNING/CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, BELOW THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I EMPTIED 3 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND IT WAS STILL BURNING. CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE HAD BURNED ITSELF OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE WITHIN MINUTES TO INVESTIGATE, OTHERWISE IT COULD'VE BEEN A HUGE CAR FIRE AND POTENTIALLY FIRE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND HOUSE AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287386October 14, 2009
STEERING
ON MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 12, 2009, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY (280 SOUTH, DALY CITY, CA). I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON A SLIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM VEERING INTO THE LEFT BARRIER, AND USE ALL MY STRENGTH REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ADJUST TO SPEED AND STEERING CONTROL TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY ENDED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (65 MPH) IN THE FAST LANE OF A BUSY METROPOLITAN CITY WITH CARS ALSO TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ALL AROUND ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FAILURE IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR, AND THAT IN ADDITION TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, YOUR ORGANIZATION, NHTSA, HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUCH CLAIMS (NHTSA ACTION #'S FROM PUBLIC RECORD: PE07022 AND EA07011). MY FRIEND, WHO IS ALSO A MINI OWNER, HAD THIS VERY SAME FAILURE HAPPEN TO HIM, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU (AS HE DID). I UNDERSTAND BMW ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 2002/2003 PRODUCTION MODELS, BUT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTION YEARS: MINE (2005) AND THIS PERSON (2004): HTTP://BIT.LY/3HLZ5A. THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ME, MY PASSENGER, MY DOG, AND ANYONE ELSE DRIVING NEAR ME COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER MY DISABLED VEHICLE TO SAFETY BY BRUTE FORCE. PLEASE HELP ME AND ANY OTHERS WHO MIGHT COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM AVOID A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHE. IT WILL NOT HELP MUCH TO REPLACE THIS PART WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PART THAT WILL ALSO FAIL IN THE FUTURE. A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT COURSE OF ACTION I CAN TAKE NOW TO GET MY CAR RUNNING IN A SAFE, MECHANICALLY SOUND CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286597October 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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